Climbing my grandfather-Andrew Waterhouse

• “I decide to do it free, without a rope or net.”


  The speaker’s decision to climb without safety equipment reflects their determination and independence. It also symbolizes the risk involved in getting to know their grandfather better. The use of the present tense involves the reader, making the speaker an active character in this metaphorical journey.
• "First, the old brogues, dusty and cracked; an easy scramble onto his trousers, pushing into the weave, trying to get a grip.”


  The description of climbing from the shoes upward emphasizes the physicality of the experience. The “old brogues” represent the grandfather’s worn-out life, and the act of scrambling onto his trousers suggests the effort required to understand his past. The tactile details create a vivid image of the climb.
• “By the overhanging shirt I change direction, traverse along his belt to an earth-stained hand.”


  The shift in direction highlights the complexity of getting to know someone. The “earth-stained hand” symbolizes the grandfather’s hard work and experiences. The speaker’s movement along the body mirrors the process of learning more about their relative.
• “The nails are splintered and give good purchase, the skin of his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice.”


  The tactile details reveal the grandfather’s physicality. The “splintered nails” suggest resilience, while the “smooth and thick” skin contrasts with the roughness of climbing. The warmth of the skin evokes a sense of familiarity and connection.
• "At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while in the shade, not looking down, for climbing has its dangers, then pull myself up the loose skin of his neck to a smiling mouth to drink among teeth.”


  The shoulder represents stability and support. The speaker’s caution about not looking down acknowledges the risks involved in understanding someone deeply. Climbing to the “smiling mouth” implies a moment of intimacy and communion, where they share stories and memories.
• In summary, “Climbing My Grandfather” uses an extended metaphor of mountaineering to explore the process of getting to know a relative. Waterhouse’s poem combines physical descriptions with emotional depth, emphasizing the generational divide and the rewards of connection.